More info on products featured on A Current Affair - Coconut Oil and Paw Paw

Well anyone who was watching A Current Affair last night would be quite amazed and intrigued with the amazing testimonials on some really and truly fantastic natural therapies for pain, inflammation, joint stiffness and arthritis as well as for scar treatment and wound healing. But I bet what you are really wondering is do these products actually work?

Here is the good news... for once TV is actually right! In my 8 years of retail work in pharmacy and health food stores I have seen for myself how amazing these treatments actually are and I am really excited to see some great natural products be advertised for once. In today's blog I'm going to give you a little more information about some of the products featured on last night’s edition of A Current Affair and give you some great tips on where to get these products, how to use them and what else they are good for.

To start with I'd like to talk briefly about my favourite... Coconut Oil! Coconuts have to be one of nature’s most understated super foods around. They contain vital minerals which are essential for health and proper hydration which can be consumed from the water or juice inside the coconut. The cold pressed coconut oil also contains many therapeutic benefits itself. It is the only saturated fat that I would ever recommend to my patients and has numerous therapeutic uses which include weight loss benefits, thermogenic actions, it is protective on the heart and cardiovascular system and has been useful in the treatment of joint pain associated with arthritis, low thyroid function, digestive disorders and numerous other conditions.

The research and testimonials available for the different treatment mechanisms of coconut oil is endless. It can be used to treat topical skin conditions or joint pain by applying it to the skin, it can also be used to treat numerous conditions by being taken orally and is one of the safest cooking oils you will find. From my personal experience, it also makes a great alternative to using oil, butter or other such fats in cooking and baking. Coconut oil is also great for massage and its rich coconut aroma takes you away from this world and lets your mind drift off to a sunny island beach somewhere where you can just get away and enjoy the relaxation of your massage for an hour or so whilst the oil is repairing, hydrating and soothing the skin. I personally use warm coconut oil in my Hot Stone Massage and find it to be one of the best massage oils and my clients just love it.

Another use for coconut oil is as a hair mask or treatment. Whether you leave it in your hair for an hour or even overnight, your hair will be repaired, nourished and hydrated from root to tip. I recommend using the brand Banaban for internal, external or cooking purposes. I find it to be of a very high quality standard and it is a very affordable price at approximately $20.00 for a 1L container. They also offer a certified organic coconut oil in a glass jar for those who are a little more health conscious. Banaban coconut oil is currently available in various sizes from most health food stores and bulk food stores. To take it internally you can just drink it straight off the spoon at about a tablespoon or two per day, you can apply it topically to the skin undiluted, likewise to the hair, or even use it in cooking or baking in the same amount that you would have used butter, margarine, olive oil or other oils or fats. Try it for yourself. You will love it!

Next I would like to give you a little more information on Paw Paw. This is another amazing food which has many health benefits when eaten or when applied to the skin. This nutrient rich fruit contains high levels of antioxidant vitamins such as Vitamin A and C as well as essential minerals including Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Iron. Paw Paw also contains enzymes which assist digestion so not only is Paw Paw easily digested alone, but when eaten alongside other foods it will assist the enzymatic breakdown, digestion and absorption of other foods and their nutrients.

When taken internally, Paw Paw will assist in almost every digestive disorder or discomfort imaginable including indigestion, burping, gas, stomach ulcers, poor assimilation of nutrients from the digestive tract, diarrhoea, constipation and more. It is also useful for treating skin conditions because it has blood purifying actions and contains various vitamins and minerals which are essential for skin repair. Paw Paw also helps to tighten and and smooth the skin so these actions coupled with its antioxidant properties make it useful as an anti-ageing food. Paw Paw enzyme supplements are available for purchase through health food stores for assisting digestion. These are best taken with meals to assist digestion and absorption of nutrients from your meals and reduce digestive upsets such as bloating and indigestion. Nature's Sunshine is a very reliable brand and has been around for a long time. They offer a product call Papaya Mint Chewable Tablets. A bottle of 70 chewable tablets will cost you around $15.00.

Paw Paw can also be found in several topical creams and ointments. Paw Paw salve is an ointment based product which is often used for dry and chapped lips. It is soothing and healing and protects sore dry lips from further wind damage on a cold winter day. It can also be used to treat cuts and abrasions to the skin, eczema and dermatitis, fungal skin conditions and is great for children and babies for nappy rash. Look for the bright yellow jar with the green wrighting. It comes in a small tube or a 100g jar and retails for around $10.00. This brand is much lower in preservative than other comparable products on the market and does not contain petroleum based ingredients like others such as Lucas Paw Paw ointment which is in the dark red jar. Make sure you get the right one!

Another trusted brand of Paw Paw creams is Only Payaya. They do everything from anti-ageing skin serums to moisturisers and cleansers, to shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Their products are great and have helped many people with all sorts of conditions including acne, dermatitis, joint pain and stiffness, wrinkles, sensitive and irritated skin, infected wounds and more. These products are available from health food stores and you can purchase them all individually with costs ranging from $13.00 to $40.00. They also have a starter pack available which is travel sizes of most of their range. This starter pack retails for around $35.00 which is excellent value and allows you to try the whole range.

Well I hope you have found this information useful and feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions or comments. I would love to hear from you. Also, if you found this blog on our website and would like to recieve our free newsletter with all our latest and greatest health news, products specials and service updates please sign up today. 

Until next time... Stay well and healthy!